Audi is trying out car-sharing programs in Stockholm and Berlin in a premium manner

Audi is experimenting on a two car-sharing programs in Stockholm and Berlin, as the luxury carmaker joins other carmakers in realizing their roles as providers of mobility, albeit in a premium manner. The Stockholm program, dubbed as Audi Unite, entails having three or four users share a specially designed vehicle lease.

They uses a certain smartphone app to determine who will use the vehicle, when it will be used, and how long the usage us. A user’s share of monthly payment is determined by how much he or she uses the vehicle. The Berlin program, dubbed as Audi Select, entails having one customer gaining access to several Audi vehicles.

The user could use any of those vehicles over a period of 12 months. Audi AG chief executive Rupert Stadler said at the Los Angeles Auto Show that the carmaker’s two car-sharing programs are unlike those of rivals Daimler's Car2Go and BMW's DriveNow, which are usually targeted towards the city mass market who can’t afford to own a vehicle.

"We're looking for something a little more premium with a little bit more intelligence," Stadler said. He remarked that the Berlin scheme takes on the long-standing models of car ownership and leasing as it allows those who can pay a premium to drive different sorts of luxury cars in year.

Stadler said the users of the program could drive different types of vehicles anytime he or she wants -- SUV in the winter, a cabriolet in the summer or a sporty car whenever needed. He remarked that Audi is looking for car-sharing ideas from its regional markets, adding that Audi of America is ready to step in.